Poland international Wojciech Szczesny has moved a step closer to sealing his Juventus move after he was left out the club’s pre-season tour of Australia. The 27-year-old shot-stopper has been identified as the long-term successor to Gianluigi Buffon, who will hang up his boots for club and country following next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Szczesny enjoyed the best spell of his career in the Serie A where he spent the past two seasons on loan with AS Roma. The Giallorossi have since expressed their intention to seal a permanent deal for the Pole, but it appears that the Old Lady have won the race with the promise of making shot-stopper their first-choice in a year’s time.
According to The Sun, Szczesny has been allowed to stay back home during the Gunners’ pre-season, and this will encourage his chances of sealing his dream move to Juventus. Both Arsenal and Juventus have been in contractual discussions over the past month or so, and a breakthrough is likely to be reached in the coming days.
Szczesny has racked over 180 appearances during his Gunners career, but his last Premier League appearance came in the 2-0 defeat to Southampton in January 2015 after which he was fined for smoking in the showers. With the Pole likely to leave the Emirates, Wenger is likely to urge Gunners’ deputy David Ospina to stay put at the club as they could potentially find themselves without experience behind current number one Petr Cech.
Arsenal have announced their pre-season squad for the trip to Australia which involves summer signings Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette.
